PLATELETS IN PATHOGENESIS OF PRIMARY HYPERTENSION

Blood Pressure is chiefly determined by cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance. latter being the principal element in causation o f established hypertensive state. Platelets being the source of variou s biogenic amines and cations, may have role in the understanding of p athophysiology of essential hypertension. It appears that altered plat elet serotonin kinetics are relevant in hypertensive states. Platelets are also in an activated states in human hypertension. Platelets acti vation releases various biogenic amines which contribute to hypertensi ve process. Platelets are akin to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCS) . The raised platelet cytosolic calcium in hypertension indicates incr eased levels of ionic calcium in vascular smooth muscle cells which in turn raises peripheral vascular resistance and lead to hypertension.